Electricity-meter.



N0- 786,823. PATENIED APR. 11, 1905.

F. LUX.

ELECTRICITY METER.y l APPLIGATION lFILED Npv. 29, 1902'.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 786,823. TAT'BNTED APR. 11, 1905.

y T.LUX. T

ELECTRICITY METER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,'1902.

z SHEETS-SHEET z.

UNITED STATES Patented April 1 1, 19o5.

FRIEDRICH LUX, OF HEIDELBERG, GERMANY.'

ELECTRICITY-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentlNo..78l6,823, dated April 11., 1905.

' Application met November 29, 1902. serial No. 133,186.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH LUX, a subject of the King of Bavaria, residing at Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden,-(n`rerrnan` Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Electricity Meters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electrolytic electricity-meters in which metallic mercury is used to serve as an anode, and a metallic body-such as, for instance, la platinum funnel located laterally above said anode-serves as the cathode, from which the mercury precipitated from the solution surrounding the said cathode freely drops into the bottom chamber or tu be provided with a scale to indicate the amount of precipitated mercury. v

The object of my invention is to prevent the formation of crystals upon the anode and the consequent prejudicial effect upon the operation of the same, and Iattain this object by maintaining the electrolyte constantly in motion by means of a special device, and thus maintaining its constituent of dissolved salts constant at the various points of its depth.

Several constructional forms of my novel appliance are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical section of the instrument with the internal parts thereof in full View. Fig. 1a is a similar sectional view with a slight modification. Fig. 2 is a similarview of a modification of the instrument. Fig. 3 shows another modification, and Figs. 4 and 5 represent in section two further modilications.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the instrument shown in` Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 upon the vertical spindle a is are ,then rotates under the influence of the magnet d, (or of the energized coil 6,) and so maintains the solution (the electrolyte) in movement. y

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 that portion of the glass vessel where the current flows from the anode to the cathode is surrounded by a coil g, through which the current passes. The electrolyte traversed by the current here takes the place of a metal disk traversed by current and rotates under the influence of the magnet-coil. Instead of the coil a permanent magnet maybe arranged within the vessel in this case also.

In the constructional form illustrated in Fig. 3 there is arranged immediately above the mercury anode a disk It, (preferably of glass,) provided with a central tube t', within which the platinum cathode c is situated. Mercury is deposited upon the cathode, and the lighter solution flows through said tube t' upward and back again to the anode, driving the heavier electrolyte solution (forming the liquid layer `above the lower surface of the anodebaway from the anode, so that it will passbelow the disk /L to the central partof said disk. The device 7b t' thus obviously acts exactly in the manner of a chimney, drawing in ii-uid at the bottom of the tube'z' and exhausting the drawnin iuid at the top thereof.

. In Fig. 4 a heating wire la is arranged in the instrument, and above the same is attached upon the same spindle as the agitating-disk on a vane-wheel Z, withvanes inclined to the horizontal. The liquid heated by the wire 7c ascends, and thus causes the vane-wheel to rotate.

In the constructional form illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 there is arranged upon a readilydisplaceable spindle a a vane-wheel 0 for agitating the solution, and as driving member a glass sphere p, provided with anyinternal radiometer vane wheel. Outside the apparatus is arranged a heating-wire g, owing to the heat of which movement of the radiometer, and consequently ofthe agitating-wheel, is produced.

In order to permit of obtaining a convenient and exact measurement by` means of'this apparatus,there is arranged below the cathode IOO a funnel-tube 9, which is laterally bent below and terminates in an exceedingly ine opening s. The mercury dropping into the tube forms at this fine opening s a small drop. When the mercury has reached a predetermined height in the tube r, its pressure exceeds the superficial tension of the drop of mercury and the tube is emptied. Its contents may be read upon a scale on the tube. The emptying of the tube into the lower chamber iills this latter to the extent of a division of the scaletube t. This scale-tube indicates units, while the scale upon the tube 01 indicates decimals. When all the mercury of the anode has been exhausted, oxygen would be formed upon the fused-in platinum wire. In order to prevent this, the two platinum wires u and o are fused into the lower portion of the instrument in connection with the anode and the cathode. These wires may either be arranged side by side, as shown in Figs. l and 2, or in the tube t, Fig. 3, or in such a manner that one of them, u, Fig. 5, is in contact with the mercury which has iiowed out, While the other, QJ, is normally free. If the last supply in the measuring-tube r, Fig. l, has iiowed out, the mercury will be at such a height in the bottom of the instrument that both u and v will be in contact tlicrcwith, thus short-circuiting the anode and the cathode and preventing any production or' gas.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in an electrolytic electricity-meter, of an anode consisting of liquid mercury with a cathode located in a plane above the surface of said anode and a device for constantly stirring or agitating the electrolyte, Substantially as described.

2. In an electrolytic electricity-meter the combination of an anode consisting of liquid mercury with a cathode located in a plane above the surface of said anode and a tu be, i, with a rim or flange, la, to produce a movement of rotation in the upper portion ol the electrolyte, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whercofI have signed 1u y name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH LUX.

IVtIIesses:

J Aoo ADRIAN, FRIEDRICH LUX. 

